US EditionThe Parade of Planets
Six planets will appear aligned along the western horizon after sunset with Uranus and Neptune visible using binoculars or a small telescope, NASA said.
- On Saturday, Feb. 28, six planets—Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, Uranus, Neptune and Mercury—will line up, visible about 30 minutes after sunset into March 1, weather permitting.
- The phenomenon, known informally as a "planet parade," happens when multiple planets appear along one line; planets orbit the Sun in nearly the same plane, so their positions can look lined up from Earth, NASA says.
- Pick a clear western horizon and start about 30 minutes after sunset, as Mercury, Venus and Saturn set between 6:30 and 7 p.m. on Feb. 28, while Uranus and Neptune need binoculars or a small telescope.
- For many viewers, the event provides an accessible demonstration of orbital mechanics and will be visible in parts of North America, Australia, New Zealand and eastern Asia, with South Africa set to witness it about 30 minutes after sunset.
- In early March, observers can look for a total lunar eclipse on March 3 with the partial phase starting at 4:50 a.m., the blood‑moon phase at 6:04 a.m., and the moon setting around 6:29 a.m. ET.
36 Articles
36 Articles
Six planets can be observed from Earth around Saturday, February 28, just after sunset. Here's all you need to know about this "global alignment", also called "global parade".
Rare planetary parade visible Saturday evening
FARGO — On Saturday night, you can catch a glimpse of a rare planetary event called a planetary parade. When multiple planets appear to line up in the sky at once, it’s called a planetary parade. While planets can be seen year-round, it is rare to witness six planets lined up. "It’s a great opportunity to spend some time looking at the sky," said Sara Schultz, planetarium director at Minnesota State University Moorhead. Looking at the sky is ba…
The Parade of Planets
On Saturday evening you'll have a chance to catch a celestial show that's being called the "Parade of Planets" as a planetary alignment will be visible shortly after sunset. Use the Moon to help you find the show. Next to it you'll see what appears to be a bright star, but it's not a star. [...]
The last night of February brings with it an unbeatable moment to look up to the night sky. As the sun falls, six of the seven planets that share cosmic neighborhood with the Earth will parade through the celestial vault, followed by the Moon a few days after reaching its full phase. The first planet to appear will be Mercury, closely followed by Venus and Saturn, visible for a little less than an hour after sunset. Once hidden, Jupiter will fol…
How to Best See the 'Planetary Parade' This Weekend
Don’t forget to look up at the sky this weekend! If you plan accordingly, you may be able to see a special celestial event—what’s known as a “planetary parade.” [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] Here’s what to know about this phenomenon. What is a planetary parade? This phenomenon happens when you can see several planets in the sky at once. In our solar system, planets orbit the Sun in the same plane, so on occasions when multiple planets’ paths …
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